Wales and Borders Rail Franchise

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The majority of rail services in Wales are provided under the Wales and Borders franchise.

We fund and oversee this franchise, providing around £170 million per year for the operation of the franchise. Arriva Trains Wales won the contract for the franchise in 2003. This will end in 2018.

We currently have joint responsibility for managing the franchise alongside the UK Government. The franchise agreement details the requirements expected of Arriva Trains Wales in delivering rail services.

Preparing for the new franchise

Rail franchising will be fully devolved to the Welsh Government from 2017.

We are currently gathering the views of rail interest groups on the specification for the next Wales and Border franchise. In 2017, Welsh Ministers will initiate the formal process for procuring the next franchise.

We provided the Mid Wales Railways Implementation Group with funding to host a seminar on 11 May 2015 to discuss the franchise. Download papers from the seminar along with views from groups in north Wales below.